Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. III.djvu/83

57 RESOLUTION OF THE SPANIARDS. 57 to the charge, until the overwhelming tide of num- chapter bers bore down all opposition, and they poured in '. through the breach and over the walls with irresisti- ble fury. The brave little garrison were driven before them ; still, however, occasionally making fight in the streets and houses. Their intrepid young commander. La Palice, retreated facing the enemy, who pressed thick and close upon him, till, his further progress being arrested by a wall, he placed his back against it, and kept them at bay, making a wide circle around him with the deadly sweep of his battle-axe. But the odds were too much for him ; and at length, after repeated wounds, having been brought to the ground by a deep cut in the head, he was made prisoner ; not, however, before he had flung his sword far over the heads of the assailants, disdaining, in the true spirit of a knight-errant, to yield it to the rabble around him.^° All resistance was now at an end. The women of the place had fled like so many frighted deer, to one of the principal churches ; and Gonsalvo, with more humanity than was usual in these barbarous wars, placed a guard over their persons, which effectually secured them from the insults of the 30 Giovio, Vitae Illust. Virorum, Froissart. There is an inexpress- pp. 248, 249. — Guicciardini, Isto- ible charm imparted to the French ria, p. 296. — Bernaldez, Reyes Ca- memoirs and chronicles of this an- toUcos.MS., cap. 175. — D'Aulon, cient date, not only from the pic- Hist. de Louys XII., part. 2,chap. turesque character of the details, 31. — Chronica del Gran Capitan, but from a gentle tinge of romance cap. 72. shed over them, which calls to The gallant behaviour of La Pa- mind the doughty feats of lice, and indeed the whole siege of ,,. , ■ ,. r> -^ULT Ti k ^ • " prowest knights, Kuvo, IS told by Jean U'Auton m a Both Paynim and the peers of Charle- truly heart-Stirring tone, quite wor- magne." thy of the chivalrous pen of old VOL. III. 8